Switch actuator



Oct. 4, 1966 J. P. BARTHELL SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed Dec. 11, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. dm-m P. BARTHELLL @V ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1966 J.P. BARTHELL SWITCH ACTUATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec, 11, 1961 FNQLVFGi INVENTOR. JOHN P; BARTHELL.

/ A'r-r awarv United States Patent Ofi ice 3 ,277,264 Patented Oct. 4,1966 3,277,264 SWITCH ACTUATOR John P. Barthel], Wilmette, Ill.,assignor to Controls Company of America, Schiller Park, Ill., acorporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 158,309 10 Claims.(Cl. 200-159) This invention relates to an electric switch actuator and,more particularly, to a switch actuator which will provide bothalternate and momentary switch actuation.

An object of this invention is the provision of a single switchactuating mechanism which will selectively provide either alternate ormomentary switch actuation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified, relativelyinexpensive, efficient and reliable switch actuating mechanism adaptedto provide either alternate or momentary switch actuation.

The novel features of this invention are set forth in the appendedclaims. The invention itself, together with additional objects andadvantages thereof, will be more clearly understood from a reading ofthe following description in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein a switch assembly embodying this invention is illustrated and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an end view;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional "view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the actuating mechanism set for alternateaction and in switch actuating and release positions respectively; and

, FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the actuating mechanism set for momentaryaction and in switch actuating and release positions respectively.

With reference to the drawings, the switch assembly includes a pair ofswitches 2 mounted in a U-shaped frame 4 having depending side portions6 and a web portion 7. Switches 2 are connected in the assembly byscrews 3 extending through suitable mounting holes in the frame and theswitches. It will be understood that the number and type of switches 2can be varied without departing from the scope of this invention.Preferably, switches 2 are of the snap action type actuated bydepressing button 9. Housing 8 is suitably attached to web 7 andincludes a pair of relatively spaced arms 10 extending through anaperture 12 in the web. Push button 14 is supported for movementrelativeto housing 8 and compression spring 16 is suitably seated betweenhousing 8 and button 14 to bias the button toward a normal position.Spring post 18 is connected to the underside of button 14 and has oneend of the compression spring 20 attached thereto. Actuator tip 22 isattached to the other end of spring 20 so that a flexible connection isprovided between actuator tip 22 and button 14.

Cam 24 is pivotally mounted on a pin 26 supported between arms 10 ofhousing 8. Cam 24, as will be ex plained more fully hereinafter, ismovable between a switch actuating and a switch release position andcarries bracket '28 having ends 29 extending outwardly on either side ofthe cam to engage button 9 and actuate the switches. Cam 24 includesinclined faces 30 and 32 which terminate in pin receiving valleys 31 and33 respectively. Depending on the position of the cam (FIG. 4 or 5),either inclined face 30 or 32 will be presented to actuator tip 22 toguide the tip into one of the valleys 31 or 33 as button 14 isdepressed. In this manner the cam is pivoted to either its switchactuating or release position. Spring 20, although flexible to allow theactuator tip to follow the contour of the inclined faces :of cam 24, isrelatively stiff so as to impart sufiicient force to the cam to pivot itabout its axis.

Tension spring 34 is disposed on either side of cam 24 with one end :ofeach of the springs being connected to bracket 28 at a spring seat 36and the opposite end of each spring being connected to a spring holder38 mounted on bracket 4. The spring "holder includes a portion 45 ofreduced cross section to receive springs 34 and a pair of notched seats46 for the springs. As can be seen in FIGS. 4'7, springs 34 are thusseated with their force lines FL extending generally transversely of thepivotal axis of cam 24 provided by pin 26.

Spring holder 38 is preferably positioned in a V-shaped notch 40 inbracket 4 and is selectively movable between a first position (FIGS. 4and 5) in contact with an upper face 42 of the notch and a secondposition (FIGS. 6 and 7) in contact with a lower face 44 of the notch.During movement of cam 24, the spring holder in both its first andsecond positions remains stationary relative to the pivotal axis of thecam and brackets 28 are movable with the cam and relative to the pivotaxis of the cam. Therefore, each spring 34 has, relative to the pivotaxis of the cam, a fixed seat and a movable seat.

Theselection of either alternate or momentary switch actuation ispreferably controlled by varying the position of spring seats 34 throughselective positioning of spring holder 38; and it will be noted thatwith the spring holder in both its first and second position, each seat46 and pivot pin 26 lie in a plane extending transversely of, :orgenerally normal to, the direction of movement of the cam, this planebeing defined by the pivotal axis of the cam and seats 46. Withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5, alternate switch actuation is achieved bymoving the spring holder to its first position in engagement with face42. In this position, movement of the cam is achieved .with a toggleaction. More particularly, with the cam in switch actuating position(FIG. 4), each spring seat 36 is disposed on one side of the pivotalaxis of the cam so that force lines FL extend below the pivotal axis tohold the cam in switch actuating position. When the cam is pivoted toits switch release position (FIG. 5), each spring seat 36 is moved tothe opposite side of the pivotal axis so that force lines FL now extendabove the pivotal axis and hold the cam "in its switch release position.In moving between the switch actuating and switch release positions ofthe cam, force lines FL are caused to move over-center with respect tocam axis so that the cam is alternately snapped into and then held ineach position.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the spring holder is moved into itssecond position in engagement with face 44 the switch assembly is setfor momentary action. More particularly, with the cam in its switchactuating position (FIG. 6), each spring seat 36 lies on one side of thepivotal axis of the cam so that force lines FL of the spring extendbelow the pivotal axis and hold the cam in switch actuating position.When the cam is pivoted to its switch release position (FIG. 7) eachspring seat 36 remains on the same side of the pivotal axis of the camso that force lines FL remain on the same side of the pivotal axis ofthe cam and bias the cam toward its switch actuating position so thatwhen the actuating force on the cam is removed the springs will pivotthe cam back to switch actuating position. Therefore, with the springholder in its second position in contact with face 44 force lines FL ofsprings 34- are never moved overcenter with respect to the cam axis andcontinuously bias the cam toward a switch actuating position providingmomentary switch actuation.

A simplified pivotal connection is provided between spring holder 38 andbracket 4 in that the spring holder is loosely positioned in notch 40and is maintained in position by springs 34. More particularly, as canbe seen in FIGS. 4-7, pivot point 48 of the spring holder is sopositioned relative to spring seats 36 and 46 that whether the springholder is positioned for alternate or momentary switch actuation forcelines FL remain on the same side of pivot pin 48 during movement of cam24. With the spring holder in both of its positions and with cam 24 ineither its switch actuating or release positions, spring 34 bias thespring holder inwardly toward pivot point 48 and upwardly or downwardlyagainst respective ones of the faces of the notch. Hence, a simplepivotal connection is provided which is relatively inexpensive yeteifective and reliable.

This invention is equally well suited to use in an assembly where theswitches and actuators are gang mounted or where only the switches aregang mounted and are operated off a single actuator having a suitableextension or with slight modifications both ends of the actuator camcould be adapted to control a switching operation. These are merelyexamples of modifications which can be made without departing from thescope of this invention. Therefore, it should be understood that, thediscussion of this invention with reference to a particular preferredembodiment thereof has been for illustrative purposes only and shouldnot be taken by way of limitation, and that it is intended in theappended claims to cover all modifications and embodiments of thisinvention as fall within the true spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A switch actuator comprising, in combination, a cam, means forselectively moving said cam about a pivotal axis and between a switchactuating and a switch release position, a spring holder, means forconnecting said spring holder for selective movement to a first and asecond position relative to the pivotal axis of said cam, and at leastone spring connected between said spring holder and said cam anddefining a force line extending generally transversely of said pivotalaxis, said spring holder in each of said first and second positions andrelative to said pivotal axis defining a fixed seat for said spring andsaid connection between said spring and said cam defining a movable seatfor said spring, when said spring holder is in said first position saidmovable seat being positioned on one side of said pivotal axis when saidcam is in said switch actuating position and being positioned on theother side of said pivotal axis when said cam is in said switch releaseposition so that said force line is moved over-center when said cam ismoved between its switch actuating and release positions, when saidspring holder is in said second position said movable seat beingpositioned on the same side of said pivotal axis when said cam is inboth said switch actuating and switch release positions so that saidforce line does not move over-center and said cam is continuously biasedtowards one of its positions.

2. The combination of claim 1 which includes a frame having a notch, andwherein said spring holder is pivotally positioned in said notch forselective movement to its firstand second positions.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein when said spring holder is in bothits first and second position, said force line of said spring remains onthe same side of the pivot point of said spring holder on said framewhen said cam is in both its switch actuating and switch releasepositions.

4. A switch actuator comprising, in combination, a cam connected forpivotal movement between a first and a second position, means for movingsaid cam between said first and second position, at least one springseated at one end on and movable with said cam, means for adjustablyseating the other end of said spring in a plurality of positions removedfrom said cam so that the force line of said spring extends generallytransversely of the pivotal connection of said cam, said adjustable seatin each of said positions being fixed relative to said pivotalconnection, when said fixed seat is in one of its positions said movableseat being positioned on one side of said pivotal connection when saidcam is in said first position and being positioned on the opposite sideof said pivotal connection when said cam is in said second position sothat said force line is moved over-center when said cam is moved betweenits first and second positions, when said fixed seat is in another ofits positions said movable seat being positioned on the same side ofsaid pivotal connection when said cam is in both its first and secondpositions so that said force line does not move overcenter and said camis continuously biased towards one of its positions.

5. A switch actuator comprising, in combination, a cam, means for movingsaid cam about an axis and between a first and second position, aresilient member having a first seat on said cam and a second seatremoved from said cam so that said resilient memlber defines a forceline extending generally transversely of the pivotal connection of saidcam, and means for adjustably connecting one of said seats in aplurality of positions so that when in one of its positions said firstseat is positioned on one side of said axis when said cam is in itsfirst position and is positioned on the opposite side of said axis whensaid cam is in its second position and so that when in another of itspositions said first seat is positioned on the same side of said axiswhen said cam is in both said first and second positions.

6. In combination, a switch actuator connected for selective pivotalmovement between a first and second position, and means for moving saidcam between said first and second position, biasing means acting on anddefining a force line relative to said actuator for selectively biasingsaid actuator toward said first and second positions, and means foradjusting said biasing means to either a first position wherein saidforce line is moved overcenter with respect to said pivotal connectionas said actuator is moved between said first and second positions toalternately bias and hold said actuator in both said positions or to asecond position where-in said force line does not move over-center assaid actuator is moved between said first and second positions and saidactuator is continuously biased toward one of its positions.

7. In combination, a switch actuator, means for moving said actuatorbetween a first and second position, a resilient member acting on saidactuator, and means for adjusting said resilient member relative to saidactuator, said adjusting means operative selectively to either positionsaid resilient member relative to said actuator so that when saidactuator is in said first and second positions said resilient memberrespectively biases said actuator toward said first and second positionsor to position said resilient member so that when said actuator is inboth said and second positions said actuator is biased toward one of itspositions.

8. In combination, an actuator, means for moving said actuator between afirst and second position, biasing means acting on said actuator withthe effective force acting along a force line, and means for adjustingsaid biasing means relative to said actuator so that said force line isselectively positioned to either bias said actuator alternately towardboth first and second positions with a toggle action or to bias saidactuator toward only one of said positions.

9. A switch assembly comprising, in combination, a frame includingswitch mounting apertures, at least one switch supported in said frameat said aperture, operating mechanism connected in said frame andmovable relative to and controlling actuation of said switch, a camintermediate said switch and said operating mechanism, said camengageable with said switch and mounted for pivotal movement by saidoperating mechanism between a switch actuating and a switch releaseposition, a spring holder, mean-s for adjustably connecting said springholder in a first and a second position relative to the pivotalconnection of said cam, at least one spring connected between said camand said spring holder and defining a force line extending generallytransversely of said pivotal connection, said spring holder in each ofits positions defining a fixed seat for said spring relative to saidpivotal connection and said connection between said spring and said camdefining a movable seat for said spring relative to said pivotalconnection, when said spring holder is in said first position saidmovable seat being positioned on one side of said pivotal connectionwhen said cam is in its switch actuating position and being positionedon the opposite side of said pivotal connection when said cam is in saidswitch release position so that said force line is moved over-centerWhen said cam is moved between its switch actuating and releasepositions, when said spring holder is in said second position saidmovable seat being positioned on the same side of said pivotalconnection so that said force line is not moved over center and said camis continuously biased towards one of its positions.

It). A switch assembly comprising, in combination, a frame, at least oneswitch mounted in said frame, operating mechanism connected in saidframe and movable relative to and controlling actuation of said switch,cam means mounted in said frame for pivotal movement by said operatingmechanism about an axis and between a switch actuating and a switchrelease position, a spring member having one end seated on said cam andits other end seated on said frame to define a force line extendinggenerally transversely of said axis, and means for varying the positionof one of said seats relative to said axis so that in one position saidforce line is moved overcenter as said cam is moved between said switchactuation and release positions and in another position said force linedoes not move over-center as said cam is moved between said switchactuating and release positions whereby said cam is continuously biasedtoward one of its positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,051,810 8/196 2Wahlstrom 200153.9

FOREIGN PATENTS 319,194 2/ 1920 Germany.

ROBERT K. SCI-IAEFER, Primary Examiner.

S. SIMON, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No)3,277,264 October 4, 1966 John P. Barthell It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 57, after "said", first occurrence, insert first --QSigned and sealed this 22nd day of August 1967.,

( AL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

4. A SWITCH ACTUATOR COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CAM CONNECTED FORPIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST AND A SECOND POSITION, MEANS FOR MOVINGSAID CAM BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITION, AT LEAST ONE SPRINGSEATED AT ONE END ON AND MOVABLE WITH SAID CAM, MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLYSEATING THE OTHER END OF SAID SPRING IN A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS REMOVEDFROM SAID CAM SO THAT THE FORCE LINE OF SAID SPRING EXTENDS GENERALLYTRANSVERSELY OF THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID CAM, SAID ADJUSTABLE SEATIN EACH OF SAID POSITIONS BEING FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID PIVOTALCONNECTION, WHEN SAID FIXED SEAT IS IN ONE OF ITS POSITIONS SAID MOVABLESEAT BEING POSITIONED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION WHEN SAIDCAM IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION AND